Llandefalle Parish

The orginal dedication of this ancient church was probably to St. Meilig, still comemorated at nearby Llowes church in the Hay Deanery, so there has probably been a church here for nearly 1500 years. The tower, south porch and north wall are 13th century. The massive font remaining of the earlier 12th century church. Restoration occured at the end of the 15th century giving us the graceful pillars of the arcade, the high roof and the wide windows of the present church.

Over the centuries the church has been altered and adapted to allow for changing fashions and much still remains to show this history.

• The rood screen, now without the loft which must of capped it, (as can still be seen in nearby Llanfilo church,) although the steps for access to it still remain, tells of the zeal of the reformation with the removal of all traces of idolatory.
• Painted fragments tell of the pictures found in medieval churches to teach the often illiterate worshipers. They also tell of the hatred for such pictures felt by the puritans, traces of the text inscriptions ordered by them to replace the paintings in the mid 17th century also remain.
• The four bells of 1665, inscribed with the names of churchwardens, tell of the returning peace at the end of the civil war.
• The registers which start in 1813, (further details on the Genuki site,) tell of the increasing design to have everything recorded in writing.
• The area at the rear of the church formerly used as a school, tells of the concern for a universal education shared by the church.

There is much more to be seen and discovered there, this is best done by visiting the church, and joining in with the worshipers on a Sunday to experience the living reality of this piece of history.